Spandrel truss



May 7, 1935. .Y l n.1. DAvlsoN 2,000,885

SPANDREL TRUS S Filed April 25, 1'952 4 sheets-sheet 1 l E@ Egell le I I Qi l5 ZO u i )Vg/f; I I9 F3 iti ZO I lNvramoR` i Roberf L. Dew son May 7, 1935. 'R. L.' DAvlsjN 2,000,385

SPANDREL TRUSS Filea April 25, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet `2 INVENTOR Rober?v l... Davison I May 7, 1935. R. 1 DAvl'soN 2,000,885

SPANDREL TRUss l 1` Filed April 25, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheerl 3 A l5 l? l5 .Y KUN! [MMX i INVENTOR 2"Roberf .Dovnson HIS ORNEY .Patented May' 7, 193s.

UNITED STATES SPANDBEL TRUSS Robert L. Davison, New- York, N. Y., assigner to John B. Pierce Foundation, New York, N. Y., .n acorporation of New York Application April 25,1932, Serial No. 7,389

9Claims.

My present vinvention relates to building construction andmore particularly to an exterior wall or spandrel truss construction. q

-In constructing an ordinary building, such as a house', it is\usal to construct the outer wall by utilizing corner'risers and intermediate risers, all tied together in a truss construction, arranging in said construction horizontal members for supporting the floor and roof joists. `This construction may be varied by utilizing thecomer risers and intermediate risers and filling in the space between such risers with a relatively vlight construction designed to'carry and support the outer covering of the building, and-.the means for supporting the iloor or roof joists is attached directly to the risers. These constructions of an ordinary building necessitate the use'of relatively heavy material and also a wall of a thickness of such dimension that the effective floor area of the building compared to the actual overall dimensions thereof is relatively small.

Pursuant to my present invention I have aimed to overcome the objectional features vof prior constructions and in carrying out my invention I have devised a formof truss construction which not only reinforces the wall material and the in;4 sulation so that a relatively structurally weak insulation material may be used with it, but it also decreases the heretofore necessary'thickness .of the exterior' wall, besides adding additional floor area in a given building and above all, re-

duces the dead load. My invention is adapted 'to v replace the ordinary spandrel beam ordinarily used between columns and is strong'enough `to carry the entire weight of the wall as well as the iloor load.

`My improvedtruss or exterior wall construe tion consists essentially of a relatively light framework of solid material having the space be- 40 .tween the outer limits illled with a wire lattice width of the frame and incorporated in the structure-a vertically arranged plate of convenient size', and enclosing such structure within any suitable or equivalent substance or' any other desirable substance which is suitable as a covering and preferably as an insulating material. With this construction the end member thereof becomes a 50 parto! the column or riser and the top member of such truss furnishesv a support for the sash and forms the ,exteriorl window sill and the interior window sill'.` n addition, the interior win'- dow sill portion may act as a .radiator cover-or hood and to which may be attached a support for construction and having extending across vthe material. 'The suitable material may be plaster a radiator, thus making it unnecessary to furnish and build such usual appurtenances on the job.' The bottom member of the frame forms awindow head structure member as well as the usual drip therefor.. while the column itself or shelf chan- 5 nels attached tothe columns or risers furnish The vertically arranged beam interwoven in the truss is designed primarily for -supporting beams or iloor ioists and because of this construction it is merely necessary to. provide the floor joists or other like members with cooperating members 20 which slip over and enclose the vertically arranged beam, and in this construction, no bolting of the beam is necessary. and because the interwoven bar is practically at the center of the web of the truss, the Aactions-resulting from the 2s floor joists do not cause anyeccentric stress in the structure. An object of my invention, therefore, is an improved exterior vwall' and spandrel truss. l Other objects and novel features of 'the'con- 30 struction embodied in my -device will appear as the description of the invention progresses.

In the drawings illustrating pre ferred embodiments of nrvinvention,

Fig.' 1 isa side elevation of a truss; 35, .Fig.2isaplanviewof1"ig.1;v v A Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation on theline i-IofFigJ: -f Fig. 3a is a detail of a portion ofthe structure shown in Fig. 3 and showing the vertically ar' 40 rangediio'or beam supporting bar attached to the outside of the lattice work; A

Fig. 3b is a view similar to Fig. 3a but showing the vertically arranged floor truss supporting bar attached to the other side of the lattice work;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation, partly in section, of the upper right hand corner of the 4truss shown in Fig 1; 1Iiig;isaplanonthelinelf-Bofl'iigAY Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a portion ofthe ex.- `50 terior of a' building showing a plurality ofthe.

trusses constitutingmy the'column's or risers: Fig. 'l is an enlarged elevatiompartly'in invention in on of a ycolumn or riser to which 55,1

cording to my invention are attached to either side thereof;

Fig. 8 is a sectional-side elevation on the line 8-8 of Fig. '1

Fig. 9 is a sectional planview on the of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view on the line |3| ti of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the upper cord of a truss construction as shown in Fig. 1 and showing the method of applying window'jambs to the upper surface thereof;

- Fig. 12 is a sectional side elevation on the line l Fig. 13 is a sectional plan view on the line |3| 3 of Fig. 12, and y Fig. 14 is a sectional plan view on the line |4-I 4 of Fig. 12. l y

Referring to the drawings, I3 designates generally a spandrel truss or a unit portion of an exterior wall of a building, such truss comprising essentially an upper cord consisting of a T-shaped member of appropriate dimensions in cross section and of appropriate length, to the upper longitudinal edge of which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, at various points along the length thereof, are welded channel members I2, the upper Asurface of the channel members |2 being co-incident with or lying in the same plane as the upper edge of the T-shaped member -Lying parallel to the vertical face of the T-shaped member and having its upper edge preferably welded to the line 9 9 channel members I2, is a U-shaped member I3,

the upper surface of this member lying in the same plane as the upper face of the channel members |2 and the upper edge of the T-shaped member II. f

The ends of the member I3 are folded over as indicated at I4 to form a partial closure for the end portions'thereof. The upper surface of the member I3 is perforated -in any suitable manner as indicated at4 I5 to forma design, while the downwardly extending portion remote from the channel members I2 is perforated to provide a plurality of parallelly arranged holes or perforations I6, all for a purpose to be hereinafter described. l

At each end of the T-shaped member II and extending downwardly therefrom at right angles thereto are angle members |1, the upper ends of such angle members I1 being preferably welded to the T-shaped member and to the end channel members I2.l The lower end'of the angle members I1 arey attached to the ends of a T- shaped member |8 which lies parallel to the T- shaped member and spaced apart therefrom a, distance equal to the length of the angle linem: bers I1. Secured to the vertical face of the T- shaped member I8 and coincident with the lower edge thereof are channel members |2a, similar in all respects tothe channel members I2, above described asbeing attached to the vertical face l of the rf-shaped member I. The angle members I1 on one face thereof, as shown in Fig. 4, are perforated as indicated at I3 and to the inner side of such portion is welded a nut 20, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. l

The T-shaped members II and Il and the angle members I1 denne a substantially rectangular space and this rectangular space is o ccupied by a lattice work composed of a plurality of rods 2|, suchrods being welded at their ends to the vertical faces of the T`shaped members II and I8 and to the angle members I1. Also, these rods 2| are. where possible, welded to each other at their points of intersection. Intermediate the ends of the angle members I1, and parallel with the T-shaped members |I and I8, is a bar or beam 22 of appropriate dimensions, such beam o r bar being Welded at its ends to the angle members |1 and also being interwoven in the grille or lattice work formed bythe rods 2|. In addition to'be'ing interwoven in the grille or lattice work formed by the rods 2|, the bar or beam .'22 is preferably welded to the rods 2| at various points along the length of such bar or beam. It isy not necessary, however, that such bar or beam 22 be interwoven in the lattice work formed by the rods 2| as shown in Fig. 3a as it is quite within the spirit of my invention to have the bar or beam 22 associated with the lattice work formed by the rods 2| and attached to the rods 2| by welding on one face as shown in Fig. 3a where the bar or beam 22'to distinguish the same from thel bar or beam 22-is attached to the one face of the lattice work formed by the rods 2|, preferably by welding, and in Fig. 3l: where the similar bar or-beam 22l is attached to the opposite side of the lattice work formed by the rods 2| and preferably also by welding. 'I'he space within the upper and lower T-shaped members II and I8 and including the rods 2| and bar or beam 22 is enclosed in reinforcing and/or insulating material 25. A portion of the construction not embedded in the material 26 is the outer vportion of the webs of the T-shaped members 'the width of the spandrel truss shown in Fig. 1,

for example. The members- 21 are channel shaped members, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, for example, and the arms of such channel members 21 are drilled along their length at various points to allow for passage of bolts utilized in bolting a spandrel truss, such as has been described, in position thereon. The spandrel tru is placed in position as shown in Figs. 6 and '7, for example, whereupon thebolt or bolts 23 are passed through the perforations in the vertical edge member of the channel risers 21, a. washer 23 being placed under the head thereof, and such bolts screwed into one or the other of the nuts 2||vcarried on the angle members I1. This bolting of the spandrel trusses I0 takes place until as many have been assembled as desired, with the result that the spandrel [trusses extend around the framework of the building in parallel rows, it being assumed of course that care is taken to bring the lowermost spandrel truss in position to allowa floor truss, to be hereinafter described, to be positioned on the bar or beam 22. Assuming this has been done and it is desired to lay the floor truss, a portion of the material 2S adjacent to the bar or beam 22 is cut away as indicated at 30 in Fig. 8 to thereby expose a portion of the length of the bar or beam 22, where-K member 35, tbe angle members 34 and 35 de'ning a slot in which nts the bar or beam 22. The cut away portion 38 is sufficiently large to permit the upper portion 3| of the floor truss to be pushed far enough inward to position theslot over the bar or beam 22, whereupon the truss employed and on the risers or columns 21 between is lowered to the positionshown in Flg. 8, and `it will be seen that the. lower member 82 thereof engagesl with the inner face offthe material 26l on the spandrel truss Ill. The upper end of the spandrel truss I9 inthe lower layer has the member I3 thereof lying at a height substantially equal to what will be the lower portion of the window opening and to the member I8 is attached by screws 35a a radiator holder 86 carrying the radiator tubes 81 and 88.

What may be termed the second layer of spandrel trusses I9 that are to be attached to the risers or columns 21 are spaced apart from the lowermost spandrel trusses I6 a distance' equal to the height; of the desired window opening, as shown in Fig. 8. 'I'his opening is designated by the numeral 39 and there is shown in such opening a window structure 40. The window structure 40 may occupy the entire width between adjacent risers or columns 21 as a single window or may he divided into smaller units by means of vertically arranged members 4I extending between theupper edge of the lowermost spandrel truss I and the lower edge of the next spandrel truss I0 arranged above the same and defining the opening 39. The members 4I are 'attached to the now upper and lower arranged channel members I2 and I2a by an angle member 42 that is attached to the members I2 and I2a by screws 48 and to the uprights 4I by screws 44 and bolts 45.

Relatively small window frames may thus be the adjacent lower and upper sections of the spandrel truss III I have arranged channel members 46 preferably secured thereto by welding along the meeting edges 41 although it is obvious that such channel members 46 may be secured to the risers or columns 21 in any other suitable or desired manner. Such channel members 46 not only act as a side plate o-r member for a window construction 46, but also, as will be hereinafter described, serve as a means for securing blank panels to constitute a portion of the exterior wall of the building.

'I'his latter feature of my invention is illustrated particularly in Figs. 9, 10 and 12 of the drawings,

wherein a blank panel designated generally by the reference numeral 48 is employed to block up a space between adjacent columns or risers 21 where it is not desired toplace windows 40. Such blank panel is composed of any suitable insulating material which .may be reinforced if desired and which is adapted to iit into the space between adjacent columns or risers 21 and the upper edge of the lower spandrel truss I 0 and the lower edge of the next succeeding spandrel truss I9. Secured to the channel member 46 that is attached to the column 21 at various points along the length thereof and at various points along the length of the lower channel member I2a in the lower edge of the upper spandrel truss III and tothe channel member I2 and upper edge of the lower spandrel truss Iii by screws I, or in any other suitable manner, are angle members 49. After the positioning of the angle members 49, the blank panel 48 is fitted into the space defined by adjacent risers or columns 21 and the lower and upperspandrel trusses I6 as shown in Figs. 9 and 12, and is secured in position by screws or other suitable fastening means 66 passing through perforations in the angle members 49 and into the bodyof the blank panel 48. It will be noted on reference to Fig. 9 that the outer portion of the risers or columns 21 has fitted thereon a covering member 52 the outer surface of which, lies in the same vertical plane. as the outer` surface of the blank panel 48 and such covering member l2 is provided on its lateral edges with extending lips 58 which find a bearing on the outer edge of the columns 21. Also, such lips 53 overlap theouter edge/ of such columns 21 and between such extending edge vand the channel members '46 on each side is arranged a i suitable plastic caulking material 64 and to effect a weather-tight joint between thev various elements above described. The cover plate 62 has incorporated therein as an integral part thereof, an outwardly extending member 66 which, when the covering member 62 is in position, is in horizontal alignment with the T-shaped members II and I8 of adjacent spandrel trusses III. Afterthe blank panel 46 and the cover plate 62 are positioned as shown in Figs. 9 and 12, I preferably arrange on the lower surface of the` T-shaped member I8 and on the upper surface of the T-shaped member II, angle members 66 to thus secure the blank panel member 48 in position against removal, and for ease in manufacturing and erecting, I preferably attach the angle members 56 to the T-shaped members II and I8 by welding although any other form of securing means may be employed.

The covering panels S2 extend through the ver- .tical length of the risers or columns 21 and therefore such covering panels l2 are cut away, as indicated at 51 in Fig. 10, to provide housings for lthe heads of the bolts 28 which secure the spandrel trusses I8 to the risers or columns 21. Such cut away spaces 6.1 may be filled with insulating or water-proofing material, if desired, but in any event, it will be noted that the overlapping lips 53 are utilized as securing means for holding an insulating material 68 in position between-the risers or Acolumns 21 and the adjacent edges of the spandrel trusses I8.

'I'he spandrel truss may thus be utilized as an exterior wall or wall covering for the building K structure land may be made of minimum thickness while affording ample protection against the elements, and by utilizing the proper materials for the enclosing element 26 of the spandrel truss I0 and for the blank panel 48, ample warmth is secured in winter and .ample coolness for the interior of the building is secured in summer or' warm weather.

Also, the materials 28 and 48 may be readily cut away on the interior thereof in either a vertical or horizontal direction, although preferably, a. vertical direction, in order that partitions, such for example as have been described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 591,395,

filed February 6th, 1932, and entitled Factory fabricated partition and ceiling construction, or for the attachment of any desired accessories suitable in the erection of a building.

In this connection andreferring particularly to Figs. 12, 13 and 14, there is shown at 68 a vertical slot in which is positioned a channel member 69 and which channel member is provided along its innerl member 6I with a plurality of spaced perforations 82 which not only act as means through which attaching elements for rigidly attaching the channel member 86 to the spandrel truss II! or blank panel 48 may be employed, but which also act as a means for positioning various elements utilized in attaching partition members thereto.l As pointed out above, the spandrel trusses III have the space between the rectangular framework filled with a lattice or mesh composed of rods or bars 2I arranged diagonally 4 with respect to the length or breadth ofthe spandrel truss I0 and it is therefore possible to remove a portion of the material 26 or 4l of the spandrel truss Ill or blank panels and thus expose at a plurality of points, in a vertical line, portions of the rods or bars 2|. Such a cut away portion is illustrated in Figs. 12 and 14 by the reference numeral 66 and it is obvious that when the portions of that a'. U-shaped member 61 may be used to encircle or enclose the exposedportion of the rod/or rods 2| whereupon the threaded ends of the legs of such member 61 may be inserted through the proper perforations 62 in the wall Il of the channel member 60 and the channel member 80 secured in position in the spandrel truss l0 and in the blank panel 48 by the nuts 68. Before this is done, however, 'and depending upon the character or type of the partition to be utilized, threaded members 68 are secured to the channels 60 by screws 10 as clearly shown in Figs. 12 and 13. With the channel member 60 in position and with the threaded members 69 in the channel thereof and properly positioned vertically, a partition member 1I may be securely attached to the interior of the exterior Wall by tie bolts 12 passing laterally through such partition wall as clearly shown in Fig. 13. It is therefore obvious that with my improved spandrel truss that I am not limited to any particular position to which a partition may be attached, because, as stated above, it is always possible to expose a portion of the rods2| at a plurality of vertically positioned points on the interior of the exterior wall. In my above referred to co-pending application Serial No. 591,395, filed February 6th, 1932, entitled Factory fabricated partition and ceiling construction., for improved means forattaching Wall partitions to the exterior wall or to the partitions themselves at any desired points, there are described various forms of structure by which a wall partition may be started at any point of the exterior wall or of a partition and at any other desired point along the exterior wall or on any other partition, and therefore the above described construction with respect to initiating the start of a wall partition 1I to the interior of the exterior Wall as shown may be, in accordance with my invention as above referred to in my co-pending application, the terminating point of attachment of the entire wall partition instead of the starting thereof.

From the above, it will be apparent that I have Tdevised a combined exterior wall and spandrel truss, which is unique in constructionv and functions to support the dead floor load.

My invention also serves to reduce the thickness of the exterior wall while providing the necessary or desirable factor of safety.

From the above, it also appears that I have devised a combined wall and spandrel truss which per se possesses strength suflicient to carry the weight of the floor load and also the form an integral part of the wall proper.

l By my combined wall and spandrel truss, the wall material and insulation is reinforced, therebyA permitting the wall material and/or its insulation, constituent to b e vreduced. relatively to the resulting total wall material.

Supplemental' to and independently of the above` stated functions, my combinedwall and I spandrel truss serves also to locate and support ya sill for a window, as at-the top of each truss unit. i

the rods or bars 2| are exposed` My truss unit also serves to locate and support the usual drip forthe window opening.

My truss unit also serves to locate and support a radiator cover or hood. Also, my truss unit serves as a support for a radiator unit.

A special feature of my invention is the capability of my truss unit of being fabricated at a factory, and as thus fabricated provide for the above stated total or lesser number of combinational features.

As indicated above, and as specifically. illustrated in the drawings as to` one preferred form thereof, the rods `or equivalent comprising the open mesh.' framework extend diagonally relative to the marginal outline of the resulting spandrel truss unit, the individual rods being respectively welded or otherwise secured to one another at spaced locations, as also the'ends of the respective rods are welded or otherwise secured to the marginal members, thereby resulting in a com- 'bined wall and oor supporting stress equalizing and/or distributing unit.

Whereas I have described my invention by lreference to specific forms thereof, it will be atively light open mesh framework of metal, aY

floor `ioist supporting beam in addition to the framework extending laterally thereof and parallelto but spaced apart from the upper and lower edges of the truss and means enclosing said structure and forming the same into a unitary strucure.

2. In an .improved spandrel truss the combina.- tion of a unitary slab of insulating and weatherresisting material, a reinforcing framework of relatively light flexible resilient material embedded therein and a oor joist supporting beam intermeshed in the reinforcing framework.

3. An improved spandrel truss comprising a slab of insulating and weather-resisting material, a relatively light framework of resilient material embedded therein and including end members and a floor joist supporting Abeam intermeshed with the framework and means for securing the ends of the floor joist supportingbeam tothe end members of the frame. 4. As an article of manufacture, an improved spandrel truss comprising an open mesh framework of metal, angle members secured to the open mesh framework at the margin thereof, and a oor joist supporting beam in addition to the framework extending transversely of the open mesh framework ofmetal and intermediate .the upper and lower horizontal members, said floor joists supporting beam being' secured to the open mesh framework and to certain of the marginal angle members.

5. As an article of manufacture, -an improved spandrel truss comprising an open mesh framework of metal, angle members secured to the open mesh frameworkat the margin thereof, the lower horizontal angle member'of s aidjangle members serving as a window drip, and a-iioor Joist supporting beam in addition to the framework, ex-

spandrel truss comprising an open mesh framework of metal, angle members secured t the open mesh framework at the margin thereof, the upper horizontal angle member of said angle -members serving as a window sill, and a floor joist supporting beam in addition to the framework extending transversely of the open mesh metal work and intermediate the upper and lower horizontal members, said floor joist supporting beam being secured to the open mesh framework and to certain of the marginal angle members.

7. As an article of manufacture, an improved spandrel truss comprising an open mesh framework of metal members extending diagonally of the outer margin of the truss and a floor .101st supporting beam in addition to the framework extending transversely of the open mesh metal work and intermediate the upper and lower horizontal members, said floor joist supporting beam :eing secured to the open mesh framework and to :ertain of the marginal angle members.

8.,As an article of manufacture, an improved mandrel truss comprising an open mesh framework of metal members extending diagonallyl of the outer margin of the truss, the upper horizontal angle member of said outer margin of the truss serving as a window sill, and aoor joist supporting beam in addition to the framework extending transversely of the open mesh metal work and intermediate the upper and lower horizontal members, said iioor joist supporting beam being secured to the open mesh framework and to certain of the marginal angle members.

9. As an article of manufacture, an improvedvv spandrel truss comprising an open mesh framework of metal members extending diagonally of the outer margin of the truss, the lower horizontal angle member of said outer margin of the truss servingas a window drip, and a floor joist supporting beam in addition to the framework extending transversely of the open mesh metal work 'and intermediate the upper and lower horizontal members, said floor joist supporting beam being 'secured to the open mesh framework and to certain of the marginal angle members.

. ROBERT L. DAWSON. 

